Thread:
We don’t have a “divided” country that needs to “heal.”
The country is neither a wounded animal or a mega version of the Hatfields and McCoys. (1)
What we are seeing is the result of the refusal of those who believe they are the rightful owners of the country to accept the fact that they are NOT. They cannot tolerate the fact that their reign is crumbling—demographically, politically, & culturally. (2)
They will employ and have employed any means to hold onto power—from the “Arkansas Project” to the elevation and protection of a deranged salesman—no matter the cost. (3)
There’s no “healing” from the destruction caused. They have to be shown our collective strength. We have to insist on truth. We have to demand accountability. (4)
They are criminals. They are liars. They are exploiters of ignorance and prejudice. They do their work from every corner and within every institution of the country. And they been getting away with it for a long, long time. (5)
The story: "Hundreds of demonstrators faced off in downtown Louisville ahead of the Kentucky Derby on Sat., with guns & camouflage replacing the traditional scene of colorful hats and bespoke suits."... "There were visible firearms being carried by members of both groups." 2/
The implication: 2 groups, each wielding guns & dressed in militaristic garb confronted each other. One group: the "protestors"; the other group, counter-protestors. Both groups were "armed activists." In other words, an "equivalence" between protestors and counter-protestors. 3/
Thread on Why don’t want to see Michael Moore’s face on TV any more. From my 2017 book on the election:
In the early hours of Wednesday, November 9, 2016, the postmortems began...
“What was missing in Hillary?” MSNBC’s Chris Mathews put it to his panel of guests that night. 1/
During the next few weeks, we got a variety of answers to that question:
“She didn’t speak to the working class and their concerns.”
“She had no economic message.”
“She should have gone to Wisconsin.”
“She should have gone to Michigan.”
“She should have gone to Ohio.” 2/
Michael Moore, the filmmaker and activist who supported Bernie Sanders in the primary and came out late in the day for Hillary in the general, declared decisively that she would have won the election if only she had told the press “I feel like crap” when she had pneumonia. 3/
Thread:
Some Democrats, while urging people to vote for Biden, mourn how “underwhelming” he is, and how lacking in “charisma.” Reminds me a little of the “I’ll vote for her, but holding my nose” stuff that dragged enthusiasm for Hillary way, way down. 1/
The media (and the campaign itself) is emphasizing Biden’s capacity for empathy—and that is, indeed, a tremendously attractive quality. But I want to put a word in for something else that has become very evident about Biden (and that perhaps wasn’t so clear before): 2/
He is collaborative, willing to share power, and appreciative of the strengths of others. These are qualities that are so important if we want the diverse, democratic country whose promise is now in danger of being destroyed by a authoritarian crazy man. 3/
She’s the smartest, the strongest, the most intrinsically intersectional thinker. 2/
Sanders is an old-time Marxist who since 2016 learned to add the words “woman” and “people of color” to his talking points. He “disowns” the Bros but encourages intolerance and cultish obedience from followers who confuse decibel-level with strength and smarts. 3/
Thread: Every time a pundit talks about how predictive Iowa is and/or makes a huge deal over the Iowa polls, note well that participation at a caucus requires:
(1) being able to get off of work for several hours, something many people who are not their own bosses cannot do. 1/
2) hanging around for several hours (something many disabled and elderly people cannot do) listening to others with loud, assertive voices speechify. 2/
(3) For full-time moms and dads of preschool children, childcare (which many cannot afford) is required—or, alternatively, a high degree of tolerance for bored children hanging on to one’s clothes. 3/